Governor of Qingzhou, Huang Wan, taking up the position of Governor of Yuzhou was likely a signal of goodwill from Liu Hong towards the aristocratic families.

Huang Wan’s ability to participate in court affairs and his appointment was recommended posthumously by Yang Ci.

For the Yuan family, having Huang Wan, an old associate from an aristocratic family, appointed as Governor of Yuzhou was actually beneficial.

According to the principles of the Three Mutuals Law, the Yuan family absolutely couldn’t have someone becoming Governor of Yuzhou.

But what about Governors of Liangzhou and Jingzhou?

That was a possibility.

At the moment when Yuan Shao was distracted, unsurprisingly, there weren’t many objections heard in the background noise, even if there were a few, Lu Zhi rebutted them, and then Liu Hong asked, “What does the Grand Commandant think?”

The Grand Commandant? Cao Song, who climbed up by buying official positions, was the foremost among the Three Excellencies.

He pondered for a moment, recalling his son and grandson’s evaluations of Qiao Yan from the previous night, and felt that his assessment aligned with theirs.

He replied, “I believe appointing Marquis of Leping as Governor of Bing Province is quite feasible. With Huang Wan as Governor of Yuzhou and Qiao Yan as Governor of Bing Province, it can be seen as a harmonious and auspicious combination.”

“…” Knowing Cao Song likely wouldn’t voice any objections, Liu Hong’s expression froze momentarily upon hearing the auspicious combination of words.

Could this really be said in the court?

He waved his hand, deciding to forego questioning him further, at most looking at the money he had recently acquired and letting him stay in the Grand Commandant’s seat for a while.

“What about the Minister of Works and the Minister of Agriculture?”

Minister of Works Ding Kong and Minister of Agriculture Xu Xiang had personally witnessed the downfall of former Grand Commandant Zhang Yan, falsely accused and executed as a eunuch.

Over the past year, they had aimed to avoid mistakes rather than achieve notable deeds in their positions as the Three Excellencies.

How could they express any thoughts at this moment?

From Liu Hong’s demeanor, their inclinations were already quite clear.

Despite harboring some doubts, they replied with a simple “none.”

It was Yang Biao who spoke up next.

“What does the Commandant of the Guards have to say?” Liu Hong thought of this matter, feeling a headache come on due to the nobility’s disdain.

He had thought to assign the well-regarded Huang Wan to the position of Governor of Yuzhou, at least to silence the Yang family.

Yet, he had unexpectedly spoken out.

Come to think of it, hadn’t the younger son of the Hongnong Yang family, Yang Xiu, lived in Leping for a while?

Yang Biao held his tablet and replied, “I have no suggestions regarding Marquis Leping taking over as Governor of Bing Province, but I just remembered a saying: ‘If you desire the position, you must fulfill the responsibilities.'”

“Governor of Youzhou, Liu Boan, previously held the position of Youzhou Inspector, Minister

“Zhen, having just taken the position of Governor of Youzhou, was previously a Central Lang, later serving as Prefect of Luoyang, Governor of Jizhou, Prefect of Nanyang, Director of the Imperial Clan, and Grand Preceptor, before finally becoming Governor of Yizhou.”

“It is unquestionable that Marquis Qiao has a natural talent for military affairs and has shown commendable performance during the locust plague chaos.

However, governing a province under the authority of the Governor of Bingzhou and reporting directly to the Emperor is not solely about handling emergencies and dealing with the Xiongnu by force.

It involves numerous administrative matters, and overseeing local officials cannot rely solely on written correspondence; capable assistants are needed.”

“Yang Biao is incompetent. May I ask Marquis Qiao, if the Emperor were to appoint you as Governor of Bingzhou, how would you consider this matter?”

Yang Biao seemed genuinely serious about this inquiry, making it difficult to judge his true attitude towards Marquis Qiao taking over as Governor of Bingzhou.

But to Marquis Qiao, the timing of this question seemed quite appropriate.

She stepped forward and replied, “If Your Majesty does not reconsider the appointment, I would like to request two decrees to ensure I can fulfill my duties as Governor.”

Liu Hong was somewhat surprised by Marquis Qiao’s response but let her continue.

“Firstly, since Cui Gong currently serves as Prefect of Taiyuan County alongside the provincial government, I request Your Majesty to allow him to continue his teaching duties. His expertise in administrative and literary matters, from his previous roles as prefect to magistrate, would be valuable for guidance.”

Liu Hong privately pondered whether this was assistance or oversight.

Marquis Qiao’s proactive mention of this matter showed her awareness that the authority of the Governor of Bingzhou needed some moderation.

This slightly lessened Liu Hong’s regretful feelings that arose from his earlier sense of having no one to depend on.

“And the second request?” Liu Hong inquired.

“Secondly, General Zhang Boshen’s failure in battle warranted his dismissal, but I’ve heard he has a talent for recognizing and promoting capable individuals. Many skilled in legal matters and documents serve as clerks in his office. Could I select a few to join Bingzhou?”

“Office clerks?”

Liu Hong, residing in the Southern Palace, now knew more about the Three Excellencies’ situation than before.

There weren’t many talented individuals in Zhang Boshen’s office, but having knowledge of law and documents was indeed necessary.

Considering Cao Song was just here to pass time, a few clerks could certainly be sent to Qiao Yan.

Though peculiar, the request had merit.

With Qiao Yan in Bingzhou, there should be no issues with setting overall policies.

What was lacking were people to refine and correct her directives, drafting them into official documents according to Han law.

Selecting individuals from the office clerks of the General should indeed be feasible

“This is indeed a response to Yang Biao’s question.”

After his consent, Qiao Yan replied to Yang Biao, “The position of provincial governor is of high status and responsibility, which I dare not take lightly.

While I lack experience in governance, my strengths lie in meticulous attention to detail and a cautious approach.

I never act presumptuously. What does the Guard Commander think?”

“Marquis Qiao’s words have convinced me,” Yang Biao smiled slightly. “To dare to shed Xiongnu blood and defend our Han borders, I hope Marquis Qiao will maintain this resolve.”

With that, he returned to the ranks, clearly expressing no objections.

Liu Hong glanced over the assembled officials below, where no one seemed inclined to speak.

His gaze lingered longest on Qiao Yan.

In the flickering candlelight of the hall, his expression was hard to read, as if contemplating something deeply. Eventually, he spoke.

“Since no one opposes, then—”

“I have made my decision. Marquis Leping shall be appointed Governor of Bingzhou, overseeing military and civil affairs.”

As Qiao Yan stepped forward to express her gratitude, Liu Hong added slowly, “Yeshu, do not disappoint me.”

This was the Governor of Bingzhou!

He hoped she would be the flame to carry on the legacy of Han, capable of restraining Han Fu, the General of the North, and defending the northern frontier while leading troops to support when needed.

His thoughts converged into these profound six words.

Fortunately, with Lu Zhi’s assistance earlier and Yang Biao’s questioning, it saved him from much debate.

With the room warmed by charcoal braziers, Liu Hong felt a chill seep into his bones, perhaps due to his declining health.

Gathering his strength, he continued, “Regarding the Governors of Liangzhou and Jingzhou—”

“Currently, the rebellion in Lingling and Guiyang of Jingzhou is under control with the intervention of Sun Wentai, the Prefect of Changsha.

The bandits in Liangzhou are being dealt with by Huangfu Yizhen, gradually easing the chaos. However, both Liangzhou and Jingzhou require individuals skilled in both civil and military matters to be effective.”

As soon as Liu Hong mentioned these crucial positions, Qiao Yan briefly felt as though she, the newly appointed Governor of Bingzhou, was transparent.

All eyes now focused on these two vacancies.

Considering Liu Hong’s release of these positions to further balance power, it was unlikely that anyone would easily obtain them.

Sure enough, he followed up, “The positions of Governors for these two provinces are of great importance. I have a selection method in mind and would like to seek your counsel on it. Would that be acceptable?”

“If anyone achieves outstanding political accomplishments and has the courage to face these situations, they should submit a self-recommendation letter to me.

Explain in detail how Jingzhou can resolve the rebel chaos, how Liangzhou should handle Ma Teng and Han Sui, and how to settle the Qiang people.

I will select the most suitable candidates based on these letters and discuss with you all.”

“This method…”

Yuan Shao pondered for a moment and exchanged a glance with Yuan Ji, seeing potential for manipulation within the plan.

Analyzing situations through discourse was their strong suit.

It seemed there was room for contention!

That’s what the Yuans thought, and perhaps others did too. Since everyone started from the same starting line, it was better to return and strategize individually.

As Qiao Yan stepped out of the Chongde Hall, she saw ambitious faces all around, which seemed oddly prominent in the early morning sunlight.

Someone called out behind her—it was Captain of the Guard Yang Biao.

He spoke first, “The questions I asked in the hall today were purely for official reasons. Marquis Qiao shouldn’t take offense, I presume?”

Qiao Yan replied, “If not for Captain of the Guard’s impartial inquiry, I wouldn’t have obtained those two decrees from His Majesty.

There’s no offense taken. Promotions like this should indeed be handled cautiously, and your questions were entirely appropriate.”

“I must admit there’s some personal concern in my words,” Yang Biao sighed, “My son Yang Xiu is currently mourning for my father in Hongnong. I returned to court due to duty, and in our correspondence, I’ve heard he intends to return to Leping after his three-year term to work under Marquis Qiao.”

“According to the customs of noble families, there’s no such rule. I couldn’t dissuade him, so I had to recommend more officials for Marquis Qiao to manage.”

Yang Biao seemed troubled by Yang Xiu’s desire to advance under Marquis Qiao’s wing.

When Yang Ci was alive, Yang Xiu was still young and could afford some independence.

But now, with Marquis Qiao, a young county marquis of exceptional talent, such thoughts seemed inappropriate.

Given this situation, it would be better to have more capable officials in Bingzhou.

This experience might push Yang Xiu to excel further or, if he finds it challenging, reconsider his planned career path.

His thoughts on this matter echoed his inquiry in the hall.

As he was about to leave, he added, “I’ve said everything I needed to in the hall. Now, I simply extend my congratulations to Marquis Qiao.”

“No,” he took a few steps, then turned back, saying, “It should be Congratulations, Governor Qiao.”

Governor Qiao…

Qiao Yan was momentarily stunned.

This is indeed a fresh title.

To have the name of a province after one’s surname, even for a provincial governor, is a rare honor, reserved only for governors.

No wonder these individuals are willing to forego suppressing her to vie for the titles of Governor of Jingzhou and Governor of Liangzhou.

Take Yuan Shao, for example.

After analyzing the situation, he abandoned his bid for Governor of Liangzhou and redirected his focus to Governor of Jingzhou.

In the eyes of He Yong and Xu You, just like the selection of the General of the North and establishing additional rewards for the Eight Division of the Western Army, the competition for provincial governorship, if the documents are eloquent, may also catch His Majesty’s attention and favor.

Jingzhou’s situation is most suitable for Yuan Shao to showcase his strengths in strategy.

Yuan Shao is no ordinary talent, especially after Qiao Yan took the lead.

He simulated the situation in Jingzhou for a long time and meticulously penned a letter overnight, submitting it to the Southern Palace the next day.

Little did anyone expect that among the various submissions, someone had manipulated the process.

Calling it manipulation might not be entirely accurate; perhaps it was more akin to maliciously undercutting competitors in a bidding process.

This submission came from Liu Biao, a member of the Han imperial clan.

In essence, his proposal stated: ‘While others would need to borrow troops from Your Majesty to pacify Jingzhou, or at least food to sustain their forces, I propose a different approach. If appointed Governor of Jingzhou, I would personally ride into Jingzhou and negotiate directly with the Kui and Cai families of Nanyang. This would surely resolve the chaos in Jingzhou for Your Majesty, without spending a single coin or mobilizing a single soldier.’

This strategy alone was enough to distinguish Liu Biao from the rest, particularly since Liu Hong favored those of imperial lineage.

However, complications arose.

During Liu Jingsheng’s youth, he caused trouble with fellow students at the Imperial Academy and was implicated during the Loyalist Purge.

Currently, he’s merely a junior officer in the Northern Army. If appointed Governor of Jingzhou, he might not command the same respect as Qiao Yan.

It’s really a headache…

Qiao Yan paid no attention to Liu Hong’s dilemma at this moment.

Due to her stay at Lu Zhi’s residence, many who sought to interact with this young provincial governor were intercepted outside.

This afforded her some free time to visit the General’s Office and find a suitable clerk to send to Bingzhou.

And she didn’t just pick any clerk from the General’s Office.

Among the numerous options for her selection, she eventually stopped in front of a middle-aged scholar.

A faint, barely visible smile graced her lips as she asked, “May I ask, are you Jia Wenhe of Liangzhou?